Genetics of diabetic kidney disease: A follow‐up study in the Arab population of the United Arab Emirates

Abstract

BackgroundTwo genome‐wide association studies in European and Japanese populations reported on new loci for diabetic kidney disease (DKD), including FTO. In this study, we have replicated these investigations on a cohort of 410 Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients of Arab origin from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).Methods and ResultsThe cohort included 145 diabetic patients diagnosed with DKD and 265 diabetics free of the disease. In general, we were able to confirm the association between the FTO locus and DKD, as reported in the Japanese population. Specifically, there were significant associations with two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), namely rs1421086 (p = .013, OR = 1.52 depending on allele G, 95% CI: 1.09–2.11) and rs17817449 (p = .0088, OR = 1.55 depending on allele C, 95% CI: 1.12–2.14) of the FTO locus. Both SNPs were in linkage disequilibrium with rs56094641, also as reported in the Japanese population. While the alleles of both SNPs, which increase the risk of DKD, were associated with higher Body Mass Index (BMI), their associations with DKD were independent of the BMI effects.ConclusionsThis study confirms that FTO is a multiethnic locus for DKD which is independent from any influence of BMI and/or obesity.

Relationship between the <b><i>FTO</i></b> Genotype and Early Chronic Kidney Disease in Type 2 Diabetes: The Mediating Role of Central Obesity, Hypertension, and High Albuminuria

“…These findings indicate a relevant relationship between the rs7204609 polymorphism and CKD, which, to the best of our knowledge, has not been reported previously. Studies in Czech, Japanese, and Emirati populations have demonstrated a relationship between CKD and FTO variants – rs17817449, rs56094641, and both rs1421086 and rs17817449 polymorphisms, respectively [10-12].…”

“…In this sense, genome-wide association studies have identified an association between polymorphisms of the fat mass and obesity-associated ( FTO ) gene and T2D in several populations [9], as well as associations with CKD [10-12]. The FTO gene is located on the long arm of the Chromosome 16 on the position 12.2 and consists of 9 exons, occupying an area of >400 kb [13].…”

Stakeholders’ Interest and Attitudes toward Genomic Medicine and Pharmacogenomics Implementation in the United Arab Emirates: A Qualitative Study

“…There are several studies in United Arab Emirates (UAE) about genomic medicine [32-36]. Nevertheless, no studies about mapping the power, interest, and the attitude of the various stakeholders in the UAE pertaining to the implementation of genomic medicine and pharmacogenomics have been conducted.…”